A TEEN PROGRAM FOR THEATRE MAKERS AND APPRECIATORS
Steppenwolf's Young Adult Council (YAC) serves as a home to teen arts learners, makers, and appreciators who are passionate, curious, and interested in theatre. Members of the Young Adult Council create an inclusive, tight-knit community, while using the arts to deeply engage with the world around them.
Working to provide Steppenwolf Theatre with a teen perspective, members offer their expertise on and help curate programming for their peers. Through learning about the inner operations of a large arts institution, teens are introduced to theater professionals and participate in weekly workshops and learning opportunities. Members have the opportunity to cultivate leadership skills, explore the professional world of theater, meet fellow arts appreciators, and have fun!
Join the YAC
Applications for 24/25 YAC cohort are now OPEN! Deadline to apply for the council is April 26th. Please find the application material links below! If you have any questions feel free to reach out to our Teen Programs Assistant Facilitator Jalyn Greene at jgreene@steppenwolf.org
Young Adult Council Application
Questions for us to get to know you a bit better!
Young Adult Council friend Recommendation
An opportunity for a friend, peer, or sibling to hype you up and talk about how amazing you are!
Young Adult Council Professional Recommendation
An opportunity for an adult in your life (a teacher, mentor, etc.) to shout your praises!
Check out the Young Adult Council on Instagram
Core Values*
Leadership - Leadership looks different for everyone. At YAC, we encourage each other to create our own definition of what it means to be a leader!
Joy - It is important to the YAC that we center joy whenever and wherever possible.
Curiosity - Throughout the program, Council members are encouraged to lead from a place of curiosity, staying open to an environment where learning is around every corner.
Inclusion - At YAC, we ask you to bring yourself fully and unapologetically – we work to create an environment where you can feel safe and comfortable doing so.
Accountability - Being a part of YAC is a commitment -- we hold each other accountable to ourselves, our peers, and the values and tenants of the program.
*this language was created by members of the 21/22 YAC cohort
What We Do
Weekly meetings at Steppenwolf including but not limited to...
- Script Reading Workshops
- Meeting staff and ensemble members at Steppenwolf
- Learning from theatre artists through hands-on workshops in their craft
- Exploring our creativity through art-making
- Seeing plays for free at Steppenwolf and across Chicago
- Observing a professional rehearsal process including technical rehearsals and backstage run crew
- Working with other YAC members to curate our Instagram and other social media content
- Being Teen curators and curating the teen experience for all Steppenwolf Productions
- Reading scripts for season planning and giving your thoughts on future Steppenwolf shows!
- Contributing to study guides for Steppenwolf productions
- Interviewing and facilitating conversations with professional artists
- Volunteering at Steppenwolf's program for area veterans
See the YAC in action
Sponsor
The Young Adult Council is generously supported in part by Liz and Eric Lefkofsky.
Alumni Survey
YAC Alumni! We want to stay in touch with you! No matter when you were on the Young Adult Council, please take a moment to fill out this survey so we can update our Alumni contact list and email you with updates, discounts, opportunities, and further network connections!
Fill out the Alumni Survey